Earl Shaffer at the Smithsonian

Today, an interesting new exhibit opens at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, DC. It’s entitled Earl Shaffer and the Appalachian Trail. In 1948, Earl Shaffer was the Appalachian Trail’s very first thru-hiker. At the time, most experts believed hiking the whole trail could not be done. It took Earl Shaffer 124 days to do the impossible.

Featured items include Shaffer’s trail diary from his pioneering 1948 hike, photographs he took along the trail, the maps he used and the boots he wore.

Earl Shaffer’s Trail Diary
(Credit: Earl Shaffer Papers, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution)

The exhibit will remain in the museum until October 11th. For more information, read the full press release from the Smithsonian or visit the exhibit website.